Using the little finger

Thanks, everyone, for playing along with my "why use your little finger" brainstorming game on February 5. I started with a list of eight reasons, and it grew into the following list. It could come in handy for anyone who is asked to to a mandolin workshop.

Twelve reasons for using your little finger when playing the mandolin:

• You can play octaves like Sam Bush.
• You can sometimes avoid string crossings by staying on the same string.
• The little finger is necessary for some chord shapes, like the bluegrass chop.
• People who see you play with your little finger will be impressed by your technique.
• In position playing, it's hard to reach the notes you need without your little finger.
• You can play Bill Monroe's famous lick, alternating between G/D and Bb/D double stops.
• If you injure one of your other fingers, you'll need your little finger to take up the slack.
• You can play a high C without leaving first position.
• It's good training for playing an octave mandolin or mandocello.
• It makes it easy to play some double stops that would be difficult otherwise.
• In some music, the mellower tone of a fretted note sounds better than an open string.
• It's easier to play staccato on a fretted note than on an open string.